We begin with an …

 

1) Injury Update

 

Safety Dean Marlowe remains the Carolina Panthers’ biggest injury concern heading into Thursday night’s opener at Denver. Marlowe has been limited in all three practices since he returned from a strained hamstring that cost him nearly four weeks.

Coach Ron Rivera said Marlowe would travel with the team Wednesday. So will practice squad safety Marcus Ball “just in case.”

Defensive tackle Vernon Butler, who dislocated a finger Monday, and linebacker A.J. Klein, who’s had a sore back, were both upgraded to full for Tuesday’s practice.

 

2) Captains on Hold

 

We usually know team captains by now, but Rivera hasn’t yet told his players. He’ll do that Wednesday morning, and it’ll be a surprise if it’s not these six again: linebacker Thomas Davis, quarterback Cam Newton, center Ryan Kalil, linebacker Luke Kuechly, defensive end Charles Johnson and tight end Greg Olsen.

 

 

3) Contract Countdown

 

The clock is ticking a week after general manager Dave Gettleman said extension talks were still ongoing with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kawann Short. Time is running out, of course, because Gettleman doesn’t negotiate in-season.

Unless Short’s side is willing to come down far enough from their Fletcher Cox-like hopes, a deal by Thursday night remains unlikely.

“He’s handled himself tremendously,” Rivera said when asked about Short’s attitude this summer. “The only time it’s come up from OTAs, minicamps to now is whenever you guys have asked. So he and his agent and Dave and our guys have done a great job of trying to work behind the scenes.

“But I know at some point we all hopefully can get it all done.”

 

4) NFC Champs as Underdogs?

 

Rivera played up the little guy role while the Panthers were rolling to a 15-1 regular season and Super Bowl appearance. It worked so well last year, he’s trying it again this week.

“The nice thing is (the Broncos) have a bigger target than us,” Rivera said with a smile.

When asked how long he’d keep up the underdog bit, Rivera replied:

“You guys will give me something. I do count on some of the things that I hear, read and see. I think part of the reason I keep that mentality is so the players understand we’re not where we want to be. We have not arrived in no way, shape or form.”

 

 

5) Rookie Reviews

 

While most assume the Panthers will start two rookie cornerbacks Thursday, Rivera won’t confirm it’ll be James Bradberry and Daryl Worley. Robert McClain, who played all but one defensive snap in the Super Bowl, could be out there first. It may even be Bené Benwikere, who could switch outside and inside.

But of the two rookies, Bradberry seems like a sure bet to start.

“He’s got an interesting way about him. Nothing seems to be too big,” Rivera said.

“I think as Daryl goes along, he’s going to build confidence in himself. I think what we do suits James better than it does Daryl, so I think Daryl’s got to learn his technique and development.”

 

 

6) Quote of the Day

 

Since every quote in this 6-pack has featured Rivera, here’s another. This, via his former coach, about moving on from the Super Bowl:

“Mike Ditka used to say, ‘The past is for cowards and losers.’”